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Jul. 11, 2008
Berries, Berries and More Berries
Here on the eastern shores of the Great Lakes we are in the middle of berry season. The strawberries are just ending while the raspberries (both black and red) and blueberries are just beginning (the blackberries and elderberries are much later). I was able to get out and get a flat of strawberries before they were gone and I made up 23 pints of jam. I'll probably do some blackberry later in the summer, they grow wild on our property and they do make yummy jam. We also grow our own blueberries, most of which I'll freeze for the winter but a couple of quarts may end up as jam too. There will be no raspberry jam though, the boys eat those as fast as they ripen. Yes, we eat a lot of jam. Well, I should say that my youngest eats a lot of jam. He's the king of PB&J!
My boys helped me make the jam, the youngest mashed berries and the oldest helped with just about every step. It goes so much faster with help in the kitchen. I don't know how many of you encourage your boys to help in the kitchen, but it's really a good thing. My boys were continuing a long tradition in my family of men who can. My great-grandfather made the most wonderful peach jam, I wish he taught someone how to make it. My grandfather and my father both made (well Dad still makes) a yummy chili sauce that my brothers and now my own boys eat on just about everything. Dad has even tried his hand at horseradish! Actually I remember stories about Great-grandpa making it too. The boys also like to help me make ketchup, which is good considering how fast they eat it! And because I know someone is wondering how to make your own ketchup, I'll tell you right now, the ketchup recipe I use is the one from the Ball Blue Book. I have lots of people ask how I make it.
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I don't do a lot of canning. Ketchup, pickles, relish, salsa, and jam, that's about it. This year I want to try tomatoes and maybe some peaches or pears (depending on the local crop). I do freeze a bunch of fruit and vegetables though. If you are at all interested in preserving food for your family, whether you want to can, freeze or dehydrate, I highly recommend the Ball Blue Book! It is very reasonable, about $5, and has directions and recipes for all sorts of different things.
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Jul. 11, 2008 - Miss the berries!!
Pick some blueberries for us!! Those are my favorite!! Miss those the most!!
We look forward every year to my mom sending us her strawberry jam!! Can't wait for that!!
I absolutely love it when my boys get into the kitchen with me!! They now are starting to experiment w/ creating their own dishes!! LOVE THAT!!
Well, enjoy the jam and thanks for sharing,
Robyn